Steam vapour: better against biofilms than conventional disinfectants?

Published: 19-Nov-2010

A US study says a specific type of steam vapour device destroys biofilms better than disinfectants


In the US, a recent University of Michigan study has shown that a steam vapour device equipped with a Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation (TANCS) water treatment module, rapidly and effectively destroys microbial biofilms.

The MondoVap with TANCS technology, produced by Seattle-based Advanced Vapor Technologies uses only tap water to generate steam for cleaning and killing biofilms without leaving chemical residue.

The proprietary technology encourages the formation of nano crystals within tap water. Then, when the water transforms into super-heated low-moisture steam, the energised crystals accelerate and disrupt the cell membranes of the microbes on the surface, making them more sensitive to moist heat.

The low-moisture (6%) steam leaves surfaces dry and those areas can be returned to service almost immediately while reducing slip and fall hazards.

Chuanwu Xi, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Michigan and his research team found that treated steam from a novel steam disinfection system utilising TANCS technology rapidly kills highly resistant biofilms with greater than 99.95 % killing efficiency in a three second treatment, and to a non-detectable level in a less than 10 second treatment.

"Scientific studies have found that biofilms can be up to 1,000 times more resistant to biocide inactivation than are suspended microbes," said Dr Xi. "It is extremely difficult to get rid of biofilms and kill them. The efficacy of the steam vapor system is important because even strong chemical disinfectants such as bleach when allowed 20 minutes of dwell time did not achieve the same degree of kill that the TANCS-equipped unit accomplished in three seconds."

"This device is one of the very promising technologies that combine both rapid physical dispersal and disinfection functions. The dry steam generated can easily break the barrier of biofilm structures and kill cells inside the biofilms. It also does so without polluting the environment or risk of creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The technology should have a wide application in a variety of facilities," Xi concluded.

Seattle-based Advanced Vapor Technologies provides state-of-the-art steam vapor systems that enable deep cleaning and disinfection, for commercial and industrial facilities.

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